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РЕГИСТРАЦИЯ ЭКСКУРСИЯ

A COMPLEX SENTENCE

 

     A complex sentence formed by subordination consists of a principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses. The function of the subordinate clauses are similar to those of the parts of a simple sentence. Accordingly, subordinate clauses are classified as subject, predicative, object, attributive and adverbial clauses.

E.g. What I am about to do is very important for our future. (subject clause)

E.g. This was why he had thought of Bosinney. (predicative clause)

E.g. She thought that the open air might do her good. (object clause)

E.g. The valley was full of a lustrous dark haze, through which the ripe corn shimmered. (attributive clause)

E.g. The town was asleep when I entered it. (adverbial clause)

 

     But although the functions of the subordinate clauses are similar to those of the parts of the sentence, subordinate clauses cannot be identified with the parts of the sentence.

 

Subject Clauses

 

     Subordinate subject clauses have the function of the subject to the predicate of the principal clause. They are introduced by:

  1. conjunctions: that, whether, if;
  2. conjunctive pronouns: who, what, which;
  3. conjunctive adverbs: when, where, how, why.

 

E.g. That they were in truth sisters was clear from the facial resemblance between them.

 

     When the subject clause is placed at the end of the sentence it is introduced by the anticipatory it:

E.g. It was evident that he did not understand us.

E.g. It was surprising how little the district had changed.

 

Subject clauses are not separated by comma from the rest of the sentence.

 

Predicative Clauses

 

     Subordinate predicative clauses have the function of a predicative. The link-verb is in the principal clause. The predicative clause together with the link-verb forms a compound nominal predicate to the subject of the principal clause.

     Predicative clauses are introduced by:

  1. conjunctions: that, whether, if, as, as if;
  2. conjunctive pronouns: who, what, which;
  3. conjunctive adverbs: when, where, how, why.

 

E.g. The difference between you and me is that you give too easily.

E.g. That was what she did this morning on reaching the attic.

E.g. He looked just as he had looked ten years before.

E.g. What I’m not quite sure of is how you are to get across.

 

Predicative clauses are not separated by comma from the rest of the sentence.

 

Object Clauses

 

     Subordinate object clauses have the function of an object to the predicate of the principal clause. Object clauses may also refer to some verbals in the function of their objects:

E.g. I’ll tell you why I asked you to come.

E.g. I wonder what he’s writing to me about.

 

Object clauses are introduced by:

  1. conjunctions: that, whether, if, lest;
  2. conjunctive pronouns: who, what, which;
  3. conjunctive adverbs: when, where, how, why.

 

E.g. I felt certain now that I had seen him somewhere.

E.g. I wonder if he likes his job?

E.g. I didn’t see how this was possible.

E.g. I don’t know what you’re driving at.

 

Object clauses may be preceded by prepositions:

E.g. He began to think of what presents he would like to take home to the others.

E.g. I’m sorry for what I said to you the other day.

 

Object clauses may be joined to the principal clause asyndetically (i.e. without conjunctions):

E.g. But I’m afraid I trouble you too much.

E.g. I see you’re an early riser.

Object clauses are not separated by comma from the rest of the sentence.

 

Object Clauses Introduced by the Conjunction That

 

As the object generally follows the verb, an anticipatory it would seem unnecessary; but there are a few verbs that require it before a clause (to take, to owe, will have, etc.) the difficulty of joining the object clause to certain verbs may also be evaded by inserting this, that, the fact, the circumstances, to which the clause is added in apposition. Such object clauses are introduced by the conjunction that:

E.g. I take it that he gives his consent.

E.g. He owed it to his first teacher that he had a good pronunciation.

 

Prepositional Object Clauses. Sometimes the verb which governs the subordinate clause requires a preposition. Though in former times prepositions were freely used before the conjunction that, in Modern English there are few prepositions used before the conjunction that:

E.g. He forgot everything but that he was near her.

 

 

 

 


17.01.2017; 06:31
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